Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-01-20
HE HELPED THE KING.

HE HELPED THE KING.
BY Being Faithful in Small Thing a
Shepherd Boy Became Greatly Hon
ored.
There was little shepherd-boy who
kept his sheep down in a lonely valley.
War was raging in the land, and the
boy would have liked to go out and
fight against the enemy, but he was too
young. He was a good boy, careful
of his sheep and kind to his dog, and
active and industrious at his work;
and at home he was obedient and gen.
tie, and always ready to do a good
turn for any one. But, though he liked
his work, he would have liked better to
fight, and he was very sorry that he
could not be a soldier. One day a
long column of loose soldiers, with
bright red coats and flashing helmets.
and trumpets sounding, rode through
the valley on their way to battle.
Among them was young soldier, a
cousin of the shepherd-boy, and not
many years older The boy called to
him, and babe him goodbye, and as
the soldiers disappeared at the end of
the valley, he said to himself; II
wish I were as old as my
cousin, that I might go out to
fight the Kings battles. He will risk
his life to help the King, and, may be,
he may do something great, and help
to win battle and save our country;
but can do nothing but stay here and
, watch few sheep. l wish could do
something to help the King AS he
said these words a pigeon came came
hurriedly flying close over his head
The boy looked up, and there was a
hawk chasing after her. The poor bird
few round and round, and here and
| there, and managed to escape as far as
the next meadow; but she was close
followed at every turn by the hungry
hawk, and it was clear that she would
be caught in a minute, if no help came.
There was no time to go round by the
gate, so in moment the boy jumped
on high stone-wall that parted the
two meadows; it was high wall, and
| there was steep, rough rock on the
| other side. The jump was dangerous
one, but without a moments hesitation
the brave Lad leaped down, and
the next moment-though he sprain-
ed his foot and fell, striking one
cheek against a sharp edge in the
rock-he was, up again on his feet,
and finging his crook at the hawk
he stopped him just in time to save the
poor trembling pigeon, Then he took
up the pigeon, more dead than alive,
and stroked it gently. In few min
utes it seemed to gain strength and
courage. Meantime, the shepherd-boy,
limping as he went, carried the. bird
round to. the meadow where he was
keeping his sheep. And now, while he
was feeding the pigeon with some bread
crumbs it came into his mind: "What
am to do with this pretty bird?' AT
first he said: Il will take it home to my
brothers and sisters. Elbow pleased
obey will bei'' Then it occurred to
him: perhaps the pigeon belongs to
| some one else. Indeed it must, for it's
not wild wood-pigeon, but tame
! one; and besides, some one has tied a
silk thread and piece of paper round
its neck. But then, have not saved it!
1t would have been killed but for me.
Surely it belongs to me. And besides,
if / let it go, may not another hawk kill
it?'' All this he thought to himself, and
part of it he spoke aloud. But when
he had finished, his conscience told him
that he ought not to keep the pigeon
it was, very hard to let it gos but it wa:
right. So he kissed the pigeon ane
said: Goodbye; go home to YOU
master who gave you Your little sill
collar"
Away flew the pigeon straig towart
castle at the top of a hih a long was
off, and at the same time away gallope'
man On horseback down in the dee]
lane that ran by the side of the meadow
The boy wondered for aminute who, i
was that had been quietly waiting Il
the Lame, but soon he forgot all stou
that Now, you must; know that, thi
man who galloped oRwhen the Rigeo1
flew away was no other than the, King
The King had been riding a little be
| hind his soldiers, and had heard all tn
shepherd boys complaints, and how h
wanted to do something to help tn
King. He had also noticed ho'
the brave boy had jumped frol
the top of a. high wall an
had saved the pigeon. Moreove
just as the pigeon was rising
fly away, he had noticed the little piee
of paper tied by the silk thread roun
the pigeons neck. He had not notice
this while the bird was in the boy
hand, but when it began to flap i
wings, he caught sight Of it, and the
he knew at once that ii was one ed h
own carrier pigeons bringing a note
> his castle, and that was why as soon
the pigeon few off the King gallope
off as well, for he wanted to see VIII
;, news the pigeon brought him Wht
he reached home he saw the pigee
waiting for him, and on opening II
note, he found that it was from one
his Generals, telling him where Il
, enemy were encamped, and shown
him how he could bring up a FIRE
+ army, and so he might defeat t
u enemy. About month after this ba
came the soldiers, again riding throu,
e the valley with the King at their hea
le And this time their trumpets sounde
not for war, but for gladness and peat